New Study Raises Alarm As Most People Admit To Using Dangerous VPN Services

The use of VPNs in today’s day and age have become so common that it’s rare to find users without useful tool. But did you know that the number of users that embrace the ordeal for the sake of privacy is actually at a huge risk?

The news comes after a recently published study by NordVPN claims that after surveying a larger number of the population in the UK for their interests in VPN, some alarming results were discovered.

This includes 40% speaking about using free services that are not only dangerous but actually controlled by hackers. Moreover, you’ll be amazed to learn that this study in question started in the year 2020 and it also enrolled a whopping 150,000 citizens from nearly 18 different nations.

Results also showcased how younger males that fell in the 25 to 44 age bracket are likely to utilize VPNs. Meanwhile, the study revealed how it was Gen Z that are guaranteed to use services for free which put others at a major risk due to having a lower figure for disposable income.

Other results showed how 73% of users having VPNs gave out a series of reasons for using the tool. The main was protection in the form of great privacy and also bypassing things like security risks as the topmost reason to put out such services in the first place. Moreover, 27% claimed to use it to gain access to content that’s usually restricted in other parts of the globe.

But the world’s top VPN service provider, NordVPN says that making use of such free services might put individuals at a greater risk than having their data at the disposal of criminals online. Similarly, it also adds a greater degree of vulnerability in terms of turning them into a target for ads that are deemed to be malicious.

Interestingly, the United Kingdom was believed to have one of the greatest figures for users getting access to free webpages through VPN. And that entails those that lie in the 11 to 25 age bracket and also those who had less income.

Furthermore, the study saw how millennial males that make up the majority of users for this tool are the ones who are more liable to get affected by the issues that such free of costs tools come with.

Always remember that the attention surrounding VPNs continues to grow as we speak as more individuals care about what sort of information they’re publishing online.

Other than that, their habits of using the web could be improved, yet some individuals continue to select free-of-cost VPNs when compared to those that continually are paid. But then a smaller majority spoke about using it at work and even forgot about how integral it is to have safe web connections when using the service at home.

Experts feel the issue linked to free services has to do with the fact that it’s necessary to produce revenue even though it’s for free. And while it does not offer any fee or charges, they do track the user and even sells information of users to interested third parties.

What happens in the end is that you get bombarded with a bucketload of advertisements or they set up strategies that convince users to switch to a paid system.

In terms of what is needed to keep users secure while surfing the web online, the answer is simple. It’s mostly linked to keeping your password strong and using software that’s designed to ward off threats. Similarly, it always helps to limit the amount of data shared online as it might come to bite you later.

Read next: This New Study Reveals How People Feel About AI Making Moral Judgements
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Twitter Gives Users Detailed Explanation Of Why It Chose To Limit How Many Posts They Could Read Per Day

Twitter really caused an outcry among its user base across the weekend after it chose to make some serious changes that didn’t sit well with many.

The tech giant shocked the masses when it opted to introduce limits on the number of posts that people could read in a single day. And then it went about further changing those limits, causing Musk to step in and provide a small explanation for the ordeal.

During that moment, tech billionaire Elon Musk stated how such decisions were done keeping in mind the huge rise in data scrapping across its app, and that entailed its systems undergoing manipulation.

But the news did not leave so many people convinced who claimed he was just trying to cover it up. Today, the platform published another post on the same subject such as its business blog where it hoped to make its intentions very clear on why such stringent measures were being taken and what other things people can expect to occur soon.

The post began with how the goal was to make sure that the firm’s user base authenticity was kept as a top priority. Therefore, Twitter has zero room for bots, spam, as well as threat actors who continue to do nothing but harm to the network. And when asked why people were not provided with any heads up, well, Twitter says it would have given such bad actors enough time to change their behavior so they would no longer get detected.

Such posts are a clear indication of what goes on behind the scene when it comes to data scraping for apps like Twitter that make use of AI models. At the same time, it also confirmed how bots were tricking people and having chats on the app in a manner that would go unnoticed by the system. But the firm failed to highlight which firms were responsible for making use of such bots to gain their own benefits.

In the same way, the blog went about confirming how the latest limits for users in terms of how many posts they can read in a day were solely impacting a small fraction of those on the app. Similarly, it had a tiny impact on the whole advertising platform. Moreover, by the looks of it, the post seems to be hinting at how things might be going back to the usual and when that happens, Twitter vowed to again provide more updates as it’s currently doing just that.

The company opted to end the matter on a high by adding how deeply involved it has become in terms of making the platform a place for all to enjoy and make the most of. And while nobody likes such abrupt changes, it’s often necessary to take a break and slow down if you wish to make progress in the long run.

Read next: Community Notes On Twitter Aren’t Effective at Tackling Information, Fact Checkers Say
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Instagram Threads Is Coming To The US And UK But Not The EU

The hype surrounding Instagram Threads continues to peak as we speak and people in the US and the UK are setting their eyes on the launch that’s expected to arise tomorrow.

But the same news would not be applicable to those in the European Union who are being told to sit and watch in silence while other people sign up.

The news was announced by The Independent today who confirmed reports with the DPC today that Threads has not been given the green signal. And we’re not quite sure if and when it will.

But those in the UK will be able to use and make the most of the rollout as the country simply does not follow any privacy laws of the European Union after it opted to take the route of Brexit. Moreover, a similar scene ensued in terms of Google Bard which was recently rolled out across the United Kingdom without any trouble, despite it being banned for a launch in the EU region.

As per a recently published report, the top regulator from Ireland is not the one who opted to block Instagram Threads from conducting its launch across the EU. Instead, it’s actually tech giant Meta who has chosen to halt its release in this location because it feels it has its fair share of work to do in terms of making it compliant with laws in the EU related to privacy.

The problem with Instagram Threads seems to be the fact that it’s going to takin in data through the app entailing topics like location, health, search, and more. Moreover, the DPC reportedly prevented the company from rolling out ads on the app that take in data through both the Facebook as well as WhatsApp platforms.

While it’s necessary to wait a little more to see how the entire rollout takes place with Threads, people are getting excited that a new archrival is arriving in the market. Moreover, there is a countdown that’s being spoken about in terms of a launch which uses QR codes so that scans can be done using a device so that you can install any mobile application.

The page reserved for downloads on Threads includes pre-order buttons for a free iOS application while you’ll find a coming soon feature across the Play Store.

Read next: Community Notes On Twitter Aren’t Effective at Tackling Information, Fact Checkers Say
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

54% of Marketers Say Theyre Still Learning How to Use Google Analytics 4

Google has been trying to up its analytics game for quite some time now because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up compensating for the deprecation of third party trackers and cookies. Google Analytics 4 is meant to upgrade the system, thereby making it easier for marketers to get the data that they need than might have been the case otherwise.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that many marketers have been furious with the so called upgrade. Some have referred to it as the Windows Vista of Google Analytics, with particular criticism going towards its controversial new UI with all things having been considered and taken into account.

In spite of the fact that this is the case, well over 90% of marketers say that they have already installed GA4. 23.1% stated that they have already started using it on a regular basis, although 15.5% stated that it is set up but they have not started using it as of yet. Furthermore, 54.1% said that even though it has been set up for them, they are still learning the ropes.

4.6% have yet to set it up, but only 2.6% stated that they are never going to use it at all. It seems that despite all of the initial criticism, the vast majority of marketers are just trying their best to make do with whatever update Google has sent their way. Many called it an unfinished product, but this clearly shows that even poor quality services will end up being used as long as there is a high enough level of demand for it.

However, Google will very likely need to fix the issues that are arising. Failing to do so could lead to marketers eschewing it, and that will wreak havoc with Google’s business model. It might pave the way for competitors to come to the fore since Google is heavily relying on its monopoly to push what many consider to be an inferior service.


H/T: Martech

Read next: ChatGPT Integration Helps Microsoft Edge Close in on 300 Million Users
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

ChatGPT Integration Helps Microsoft Edge Close in on 300 Million Users

While Microsoft has a virtual monopoly on PC operating systems and the various software and programs that go along with it, one area where it has significantly stayed behind is in that of web browsers. Internet Explorer became an inside joke in the internet community, but in spite of the fact that this is the case, Microsoft tried to replace it with the new Edge browser in order to take a second stab at the web browser market.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Microsoft Edge got closer to the 300 million user mark, with 285 million users in total. While it is still falling short of Google Chrome which has over 3.3 billion users, as well as Safari which currently has over 1.1 billion, Edge has made up quite a bit of ground since its launch.

This is thanks in no small part to the integration of ChatGPT into the Edge browser because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up adding a massive amount of extra functionality. The browser added an extra 50 million users after integrating ChatGPT, and it is not a stretch to believe that this AI allowed Edge to grow faster than might have been the case otherwise.

However, another browser by the name of Opera is growing at a rapid rate as well. Opera has added 41 million users year over year, which represents a 40% increase. This seems to suggest that Edge still has a lot of work to do if it wants to become the dominant web browser that Microsoft wants it to be.

Opera is currently in fourth place, with about half the users as Edge. Coming in close at its heels is Firefox with 150 million users, just 2 million shy of Opera’s total. It will be interesting to see if Opera is able to widen the gap even further as the year goes by, which would rob Firefox of its once secure position as the most popular alternative to Chrome as well as Safari.

H/T: Atlasvpn

Read next: A Closer Look At The World’s Top Desktop Browsers And How Their Market Shares Are Changing
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

This New Study Reveals How People Feel About AI Making Moral Judgements

With AI systems advancing at such a rapid rate, there may come a time when this form of tech is asked to make moral judgements on our behalf. In spite of the fact that this is the case, many have been concerned about the ability of an AI to weigh in on issues that require complex moral frameworks. A study conducted in China which was recently published in Behavioral Sciences provided some more insight into the matter at hand.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that people tend to base their opinions on the context. The morality of a decision which is rendered by AI can be greatly altered by the type of situation it was made in, and this needs to be factored in whenever these decisions are being discussed.

In one of the tests that were conducted, participants were provided the standard trolley dilemma. Essentially, participants were asked to say if they felt like the agent in charge should pull the switch to ensure that fewer people die, or if the AI should do nothing at all. When told that an AI would be making the decision, participants said that taking an action to ensure fewer deaths was not moral.

However, it bears mentioning that these participants did not feel the same way if the individual in question was a human rather than an AI. This seems to suggest that the participants believe that AI does not possess enough agency to provide such consequential moral judgements.

The primary finding that is worth looking into here is that people adopt a different set of moral requirements for humans than for AI. Such a difference is quite intriguing because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up determining how people would react to AI making decisions on their behalf. The future of AI may depend on whether or not people are willing to hand it the reigns of various essential actions that need to be committed to all in all.

Read next: Exploring the Hidden Aspects Boss Could Notice During Your Working Hours
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Twitter Is Struggling With Bots And Accounts Marketing Adult Content As Experts Speak Of No Solution In Sight

Just when you thought crypto spam accounts were the worst thing that could happen to an app, new reports are speaking about Twitter going through a crisis where no easy solution seems to be in sight.

We’re talking about a long list of bots with accounts that promote adult content increasing to new heights each day. They’re bombarding users’ message inboxes and even trying to interact with them in every way possible to start a conversation. So far, no easy way out has been identified.

We know that such issues are not something awfully new but seeing the figure for adult bots rise is truly an ironic affair. Let’s not forget how tech billionaire Elon Musk has even promised in the past that he would be tackling such issues involving bots and spam after coming into power. So far, that’s yet to happen.

This past week, we saw some top security experts and other users mention that plenty of accounts that looked suspicious were getting flagged when they noticed that they were following them or trying to engage in an unwanted chat through DMs.

The experts even went on to release a tweet where they put such suspicious accounts in the limelight that they felt were trying to gain nothing but their own benefits as likes. This way, it would lure more people to view their accounts and allow them to press on links that had been enlisted across their specific bio.

Such links would cause the viewer to land on a suspicious site including those that are NSFW themed. But the app has been on alert and so are its security researchers and they’re trying to do everything in their power to suspend such accounts and prevent it from taking place.

The company says it’s playing an active role in terms of suspending such accounts that promote such bogus tactics but it’s yet to clearly outline a defined solution on the matter that would really prove to be worthwhile in the long run.

Right now, bots are turning out to be a huge issue for the firm, and without a proper plan to combat the rise in spam, things are feared to go from bad to worse. Did we mention how Elon Musk has mentioned time and time again that the app would carry on with this fight against spam until the last second?

Just a few days ago, we saw the tech billionaire mention how his goal at this moment in time was to put a limit on rates of viewing Twitter posts to assist with the alarming issue of data scraping with system manipulation.

For now, it’s just not clear if targeting bots has anything to do with this or not. But by the looks of it, we’re not quite sure if we’ll ever find out.

Before this endeavor, we saw the controversial activity of having users’ blue badges stripped if they were verified under the company’s previous criteria of being verified. But that also was very confusing because some accounts got the ticks back because they were prominent.

The point of view of Elon Musk in this regard was to tear down an age-old system and make it fair for all but again, returning blue badges to those deemed to be high profile in nature would always be questioned for obvious reasons.

So you can’t help but wonder what the purpose of verification is when some have to pay while other famous ones do not. What do you think?

Read next: Jack Dorsey Tells Elon Musk To Hang In There Because Running Twitter Isn’t Easy Amid Users’ Outcry Against Rate Limits
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World